Impact Your World

Zoo Atlanta’s mission to help save pandas

By Jacqueline Gulledge, CNN Photos by Julia Chan, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 10:14 AM EDT, Tue March 29, 2016
The giant panda is an endangered species with about 1,800 left in the wild.
The giant panda is an endangered species with about 1,800 left in the wild.
Julia Chan/CNN
A panda's diet consists mainly of bamboo, but the animals are classified as carnivores.
A panda's diet consists mainly of bamboo, but the animals are classified as carnivores.
Julia Chan/CNN
According to Zoo Atlanta, giant pandas live to be about 20 years in the wild but up to 30 years in zoos.
According to Zoo Atlanta, giant pandas live to be about 20 years in the wild but up to 30 years in zoos.
Julia Chan/CNN
Zoo Atlanta has panda twin cubs -- sisters named Mei Lun and Mei Huan. They were born on July 15, 2013 at the zoo. They are the first panda twins born in the United States since 1987.
Zoo Atlanta has panda twin cubs -- sisters named Mei Lun and Mei Huan. They were born on July 15, 2013 at the zoo. They are the first panda twins born in the United States since 1987.
Julia Chan/CNN
At Zoo Atlanta, the pandas eat five times a day. They also receive delicious treats of fruit, biscuits and sugar cane.
At Zoo Atlanta, the pandas eat five times a day. They also receive delicious treats of fruit, biscuits and sugar cane.
Julia Chan/CNN
Giant pandas have strong jaw muscles that allow them to break bamboo.
Giant pandas have strong jaw muscles that allow them to break bamboo.
Julia Chan/CNN
Zoo Atlanta panda twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan enjoy eating bamboo when they're not playing or napping.
Zoo Atlanta panda twins Mei Lun and Mei Huan enjoy eating bamboo when they're not playing or napping.
Julia Chan/CNN
Zoo Atlanta is one of four zoos in the United States to have giant pandas as part of a partnership with China.
Zoo Atlanta is one of four zoos in the United States to have giant pandas as part of a partnership with China.
Julia Chan/CNN
Zoo Atlanta has donated more than $10 million for the conservation of giant pandas in China.
Zoo Atlanta has donated more than $10 million for the conservation of giant pandas in China.
Julia Chan/CNN
Zoo Atlanta helps save pandas from extinction

Story highlights

Wild giant pandas are on the endangered species list

Zoo Atlanta is one of four U.S. zoos with giant pandas via a partnership with China

There are more than 1,800 pandas in the wild today

Atlanta CNN  — 

Pandas are adorable sensations on the Internet.

But the wild giant panda population is endangered, and some zoos in the United States are helping to ensure pandas don’t become extinct.

According to Zoo Atlanta keeper Jen Webb, the wild giant panda is endangered because urbanization is destroying its habitat. As urban areas increased in parts of Asia, pandas had to travel farther away to find food. The population began to die off in large numbers.

The pandas at Zoo Atlanta draw large crowds every year. Visitors are fascinated, even if the animals’ daily routines are pretty simple.

“They wake up. They eat until they have a full belly,, and then they take a nap. And they wake up, and they eat some more. And then they take a nap. Wash. Rinse. Repeat,” Webb said.

The pandas aren’t just at the zoo for people to fawn over. There’s a greater purpose for the pandas being there.

“We (are) … able to participate in conservation, to have educational programming, to be able to provide world-class care for endangered species. The trifecta of bringing animals to people,” she said.

Zoo Atlanta is one of four zoos in the United States with pandas on loan from China through a partnership. China owns the pandas, and the zoos breed the pandas to help increase the population.

Zoo Atlanta has donated more than $10 million for giant panda conservation in China, which helps fund eight panda nature reserves in China and several projects. The projects include building stations, reforestation, equipment and research.

Programs such as the ones at Zoo Atlanta and the partnerships around the world with China have made a major impact, Webb said.

“The wild population has gone up. It’s over 1,800, and with the collaborative effort between all the zoos worldwide that (have) giant pandas as well as the Chinese colleagues, the captive population has grown, and we’ve maintained the genetic diversity of that population,” she said.

You can have an impact, too, by donating to Zoo Atlanta’s conservation program.